The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO)reminds that ship owners should upgrade to the latest ECDIS software standards, highlighting the benefits that the new IHO S-52 Presentation Library edition 4.0 will offer.One of the most important initiatives currently underway is the revision to the technical standards for ECDIS.
On an ADMIRALTY paper chart their highly skilled cartographers have presented accurate and reliable information to the mariner for over two hundred years. However, the responsibility for the portrayal of an ENC on an ECDIS screen is controlled by the ECDIS standard ‘S-52’. This is authored by International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).
ECDIS manufacturers refer to these IHO ECDIS Standards when developing their software, specifically the latest Presentation Library within S-52. This contains instructions for the ‘drawing engine’ within the ECDIS on how to display symbols, colours and line styles on the screen.
Tom Mellor, Chair of the IHO ENC Working Group and Head of OEM Support and Digital Standards at the UKHO, looks at the progress made by ECDIS manufacturers in meeting the IHO’s S-52 Standards and what needs to be done by ship owners to ensure they benefit from the latest presentation library.
“The transition to the new ECDIS Standards is definitely gathering pace. I have just taken delivery of another ECDIS for the UKHO’s ECDIS suite and continue to work with manufacturers to ensure users experience the full benefit of the new IHO S-52 Presentation Library edition 4.0. It is encouraging to see such positive progress with ECDIS manufacturers working hard to secure type-approval for their ECDIS software.”
All things concidered,this change will bring some significant benefits to the mariner including greater consistency in the display of Electronic Nautical Charts (ENCs) and a reduction in the number of audible alarms.
UKHO holds free seminars on ‘Implementing ECDIS’ and ‘Living with ECDIS’, designed to ensure the navigational benefits of ECDIS that are achieved in an efficient and compliant manner. Additionally, there will be a number of these seminars held at the Posidonia Exhibition in Greece next month.
Source & Image credits: UKHO
